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Hinduism: Hymn to Kali
VERSE 18
HE who at night, when in union with his Sakti, 1 meditates with centred
mind 2 on Thee, O Mother with gently smiling face, as on the breast of
the corpse-like Siva, lying on a fifteen-angled yantra 3 deeply enlisted
in sweet amorous play with Mahakala, 4 himself becomes the destroyer of
the God of Love. 5
COMMENTARY
'Mother' (Janani)
The Progenitrix.
'At night' (Naktaṁ)
Midnight. Brihannila-Tantra says, 'He who is intent on meditation at
midnight or early dawn surely sees the supremely blissful aspect of Devi.'
'Meditates' (Dhyayet)
'On Thee as not different from the Sadhaka's own atma, who art Cidabhasa
in his body as a Yantra.' Gandharva-Tantra says, 'He who is in
Advaitabhava, and thinks of the self as Devata in the three forms of
body thinks of Her and his atma as one. He should worship the Devi as
atma with the articles prescribed. The Yantra which is one's own body
should be considered the best of all Yantras.' Again 'He who meditates
on the Nirguṇa, unattached pure atma of Tripura as not being different
from his own atma becomes one with Her.'
'Thee' (Tvaṁ)
That is, Brahmamayi.
p. 87
'Smiling face' (Smera-vadanaṁ)
Because She is ever blissful, being Bliss itself.
'On the breast' (Mahakalenoccaih)
On the breast of Siva who is inactive like a corpse. She divides Herself
into two parts like a grain of gram, namely, Siva and Sakti by means of
Maya associated with Icca, Kriya, Jñana, whilst at the same time
remaining established in Her Nirguṇa-Brahman state.
'Fifteen-cornered seat' (Tripancare pithe)
This is the Sadhaka's own body conceived as the Yantra in which Avidya
is the encompassing circle, the eight-fold Prakṛti consisting of Earth
and so forth is the eight-petalled lotus, the five Jñanendriya, the five
Karmendriya, and five Praṇa are the five Triangles and the Bindu which
is Consciousness reflected in Maya composed of pure Sattvaguṇa is the
adorning Bija. The Gandharva-Tantra says, 'The Cakramantramaya is the
Devata's Supreme Body which is Siva-Sakti.' The Bhagavadgita says,
'Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Manas, Buddhi, Ahaṁkara, these Tattvas
constitute my eightfold Prakṛti.' Gandharva-Tantra says, 'The subtle
body composed of uncompounded (Apañcikṛta) Bhūta and equipped with five
Praṇas, Manas, Buddhi and ten Indriya is the vehicle for Enjoyment.
Unbeginning and undefinable (Anirvacya) Avidya is the causal Upadhi.
Know atma to be different from the three-fold Upadhi.'
'Deeply enlisted' (Madanarasalavaṇyanirataṁ)
Always united in the reverse (Viparita) way with ParamaSiva the
Saguṇabrahman. The Gandharva-Tantra says, 'When that Supreme Sakti by
putting that Puruṣa down, of Her will appears as the universe then She
becomes passionate. And then becoming Herself active the Devi rises upon
Bhairava and enhances Her own bliss with waves of natural pleasure.'
'Himself also enjoying' (Svayam api ratanandaniratah)
Enjoying the bliss of union in Laya with Paramatma by Yoni-mudra and
becoming Saktimaya himself. The Gheraṇda-Saṁhita says, 'He should do
Yoni-mudra and himself become Saktimaya.
p. 88
[paragraph continues] He should move in Paramatma with the good
Sṛngararasa. Becoming anandamaya he should be one with Brahman.'
'Destroyer of Kama' (Smarahara)
The Advaita-sadhaka attains Kaivalya by being merged in Thee who art
Paramatma.
Footnotes
86:1 p. 88 Svayam api ratanandaniratah, of which the meaning is as
follows: yada sadhakah Saktya saha maithunakriyasakto bhavati, tada sa
Slokokta-dhyana-prakaranusareṇa deviṁ dhyayati.
86:2 Samasaktah, concentrated on Thee.
86:3 Kalikalpalata says it is a kind of yantra (diagram).
Tripūñcare pithe. The Yantra. The Kali-Tantra says, 'First draw a
triangle. Outside it put another. Next draw three triangles. In the
centre draw the Baindava-Cakra adorned with the Maya Bija. Draw a circle
outside the six-cornered figure. Next draw the eight petals attached to
the outer circle and Bhūpura. He who knows this great Yantra surely
attains liberation.' Bhūpura is the gross body composed of the five
Bhūtas (V). It is made with five triangles superimposed.
86:4 Mahakalenoccair-madana-rasa-lavaṇya-nirataṁ. Mahakala is ParamaSiva
(V). Madana-rasa-lavaṇya-nirataṁ refers to Viparitarati (V).
86:5 Smarahara. The destroyer of Kama is Siva Himself (V).
That is, he becomes Siva Himself, who destroyed Smara the Deva of Love (Kama),
with Fire from His central eye, when the latter, by the excitation of
desire (towards Parvati), sought to detract him from his yoga. Or it may
be translated 'excels in beauty the God of Love.'
from Hinduism: Hymn to Kali
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